A plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from Moldova to Oslo was “almost hit by a drone” shortly after take-off, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said on Wednesday. “His flight was almost hit by a drone when it was taking off from Moldova. That is the reality he lives in," Støre told Norwegian media. The Norwegian prime minister did not provide further details about the reported incident. He also did not say who was allegedly operating the drone or whether it had directly targeted Zelenskyy’s aircraft. However, a source in the Ukrainian presidency gave a different assessment of the incident. Speaking to AFP, the source said there had been an alert in Moldova after a Russian drone entered the airspace of both Moldova and Romania. “It was an alert in Moldova when a Russian (drone) entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace," the source said. The Ukrainian official also rejected the suggestion that Zelenskyy was personally in immediate danger and described the claim that his plane was at risk as “exaggerated”.

What Happened To Zelenskyy’s Plane During The Moldova Flight?

According to Støre, the incident happened shortly after Zelenskyy’s aircraft took off from Moldova while he was travelling to Oslo. Details about the reported drone alert remain limited. The accounts from the Norwegian prime minister and the Ukrainian presidential source also differ in their descriptions of the level of danger to Zelenskyy’s aircraft. The incident highlights the wider security risks faced by Ukrainian officials as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues.

Why Did Zelenskyy Travel To Norway?

Zelenskyy arrived in Oslo on Tuesday evening for talks with Støre and other senior Norwegian officials. The discussions focused on Norway’s military and civilian support for Ukraine, including assistance with air-defence systems. The talks continued into Wednesday morning as the two sides examined ways to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to protect its territory from Russian attacks. “We were out yesterday until past midnight, talking about how we can cooperate to provide air defence for Ukraine against the terrible things that are happening," Støre said.

Can Ukraine Develop Its Own Air-Defence Systems?

Norway and Ukraine are also exploring longer-term cooperation in the defence industry. Støre said Ukrainian and Norwegian defence companies were examining whether Ukraine could eventually develop and manufacture air-defence systems domestically. “The industry is cooperating to see whether it is possible not only to provide air defence for Ukraine but also to develop an industrial solution that would enable them to build air defence systems themselves," the Norwegian leader added. Such cooperation could potentially strengthen Ukraine’s domestic defence-production capabilities while reducing its dependence on foreign supplies over the longer term.

Zelenskyy Attends Funeral Of Norway’s King Harald

During his visit to Norway, Zelenskyy also attended the funeral of King Harald, who died on August 28 at the age of 89. The Ukrainian president joined other foreign dignitaries at the ceremony before continuing his diplomatic engagements.

Zelenskyy Plane Drone Alert Comes Amid Russia-Ukraine War

The reported drone alert comes as the Russia-Ukraine war continues and international efforts to restart stalled peace negotiations remain underway. The United States has been pushing for renewed diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Kyiv. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have recently been involved in discussions in Moscow and Kyiv as Washington seeks to advance possible peace proposals. The two US officials have been involved in American diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a possible path towards ending the conflict. Following his Norway visit, Zelenskyy travelled to Canada for additional discussions with leaders there, according to Støre. The reported drone incident therefore comes against the backdrop of both continued military tensions and renewed international efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the war.